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GDPR - A QA Opportunity

GDPR is on the tip of everyone’s tongue. The need for change, the threat of heavy penalties and the ever-looming date are causing many sleepless nights and fast developing grey hairs.

Does it really have to be like this?

The date of implementation will not change, if you run afoul of GDPR you will get penalised and every organisation needs to adapt. This won’t change.

Change is good however. GDPR can be the catalyst for positive change. Approach it in this manner and you can avoid the sleepless nights and the grey hairs!

Every organisation has data and will continue to grow the data they have. Every organisation wants to maximise the value of its data. However, data can be personal and its certainly not wrong for our personal data to be protected.

GDPR is a wide topic, which covers many areas of the business. In the world of QA, why should the new regulations be something to fear? Why should the new regulations not be viewed as an opportunity for positive change?

As we know, data is critical in testing and getting the right data at the right time can sometimes be………challenging.

Its accepted that “Live Data” is vitally important to deliver full and complete testing. But those responsible for managing information security really don’t like the use of live data. Some to the point of banning its use completely.

This leaves you in a position of wanting and needing to complete your QA processes as efficiently and effectively as possible, but have the inability to access the data you need, either at all, or having to go through long processes to get access to it. Leaving you in the position of not being able to test efficiently or completely.

Surely with stricter rules and regulations on data governance, getting access to right data becomes more difficult and compromises project deliverables?

Don’t get me wrong, those managing the security of the data have a vital job, and managing the integrity and security of the data is of the utmost importance. If this is not governed properly, then you will fall foul of GDPR. And we all know of the consequences of this...

This is where your mindset and willingness to accept change can become the tools to enable the improvements required to overcome these challenges.

You can either shrug your shoulders and muddle through, or look at the challenge and work to make improvements – to work with the new guidelines, use them as a catalyst for change and work to develop and improve your internal processes - allowing you to deliver a higher quality service to the organisation whilst ensuring you are not falling foul of the GDPR.

At a time where significant change is required, and the importance of the change is massive, how can you ensure your QA function delivers an ever-increasing quality to the organisation, ensuring that the quality of the platforms and services that are delivered are of the utmost quality whilst ensuring the security of the data?

Surely, it’s a simple case of having a strong testing practice in place support by robust processes which is being fed with live data available on demand?